What have the Kiwis got that we haven’t?

Our population figures are almost identical, our climates are similar, as is our love of sport. So why is New Zealand — and not Ireland — punching above its weight at the Olympic Games?

ON Saturday night in the minutes before Usain Bolt created history in the 100m final, an impromptu party had developed in a corner of the Bird’s Nest Stadium.

At one stage the gathering spilled onto the track forcing an official to herd the excited group onto the infield so as not to impede the 800m heats of the Women’s Heptathlon.